Shanaya Sales and Kennedy Niyah Hill ( (Photo by Joy Jaensubhakij)
Reviewed by Julia Stier
Eight Ball Theatre
Through May 26
“If music be the food of love, play on.”
With an opening line that like, it’s hard not to embellish William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night with a little extra musical finesse. Twelfth Night: A Queer Musical incorporates music from the 70s while still staying true to the original text.
When Viola (Kennedy Niyah Hill) washes up on the shores of Illyria after being shipwrecked, she goes undercover as Cesario, a young man looking for employment within the household of Duke Orsino (Jack Cain). The Duke uses young Cesario as a liaison between him and the woman he is pining after, Lady Olivia (Shanaya Sales). However, comedy and complications ensue when Viola falls for the Duke, and Olivia falls for “Cesario.” In a true Shakespearean twist, this case of hidden identities is further complicated by the arrival of Sebastian (Alcides Costa), Viola’s twin brother.
This production, directed by Audrey Forman, is refreshing in that it does not shy away from the themes of homosexuality embedded in the text. Nor does it make tongue-in-cheek jokes about it, as some productions do. Instead, Forman and the cast explore those relationships and themes by making clear choices about the characters. A kiss between Orsino and Cesario makes a case for the Duke’s bisexuality; a lingering look between Olivia, played with palpable yearning by Sales, and Viola makes it clear that the former is not all too thrilled about her accidental marriage to Sebastian, a man; and the much-speculated romance between Sebastian and Antonio (Zack Rocklin-Waltch) — the man who saved Sebastian from the shipwreck — is addressed with pretty clear indications that the two are far more than friends.
While the five characters mentioned above are dealing with the most complicated love-pentagon to ever be penned, Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Estefan Grannuci) and Sir Toby Belch (Shyhiem Parker) deliver standout comedic performances. They, along with the flirtatiously maniacal María (Thalía Colón García) keep the audience roaring as they get their cruel yet clever revenge on Malvolio (Johnny DiGiorgio). DiGiorio isn’t afraid to go big and bold with his interpretation of Malvolio, and the audience loves him for it.
And who is keeping an eye on all these happenings? Feste the Fool (Nina Romeo), of course. Played with moody wit by Romeo, this darker take on Feste brings an appropriately cynical framework to the production.
For a show with the word “musical” in its title, I had been expecting a musical theater-style presentation. Not so. However, what music there is is used to effectively punctuate changes in atmosphere and dynamics, bringing a healthy dose of cool grit and texture to the story.
The Hudson Theatres, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm; through May 26. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/eightballtheatre1/1217436; Running time 90 minutes with a ten-minute intermission.
